| caption: |
murders in the Trans-frontier region |
| text: |
5. If I am correct in my view of what the orders are as regards the relations of British subjects with independent tribes, the present condition of affairs is from one point of view not unsatisfactory. Our subjects are punished if they commit offences against their independent neighbours, and on the other hand their lives and property are protected. They may trade under British protection up to one day's journey across the border, their rights in land across the border which they held while they were independent are affirmed now that they have been annexed, and we insist on the sanctity of British territory being recognised. As cases in support of these propositions I would instance the conviction of two men of Sevikhe's for murder (paragraph 2e of this letter), and the fine recently imposed on our village of Namsang for taking part in the raid on Kamahu; the Mozungjami expedition; the orders passed on my reference last year about the dispute between Sakhai's village and Lhoshiapu's; the punishment inflicted on four men of Yazim for killing Kamahu fugitives on the British side of the Dikhu. If we continue in this way to punish every instance in which our subjects are molested by or molest their independent neighbours such instances will rarely occur. At the same time by interfering only when such instances occur we render ourselves liable to the necessity of undertaking at any time a punitive expedition to exact retribution for a specific act. |
